SIRAJGANJ, Aug 16: The golden thread industry is facing challenges to survive in the district due to lack of efficient workers, price hike of raw materials and frequent load- shedding.
This industry, as a supportive one of handloom, is thrashing down after being affected by several problems.
The people concerned opined that the handloom industry will also fall in tremendous disaster if the necessary steps are not taken.
Sources said the golden thread is being used in Jamdani Saree, Panjabi and the design of Salwar Kamiz.
The work of golden thread is related with the choices and changing attitude of people.
The white part of golden thread, which is called white palace, is not produced locally. As a result, the importers in Dhaka raise the price of the thread as per their wish and create artificial crisis, it was alleged.
About 4,000 golden thread factories have been established in Garamashi, Tamai, Shamsherpur of Belkuchi upazila, Kandapara, Masumpur, Charraipur, Banbaria Ramgati, Rahmatganj, Shahjadpur and Ullapara upazilas as per requirement.
At least 20,000 workers are involved in the factories. The white palace thread and golden thread are being merged together to make pure golden thread. Then it is sold to market. Each set of golden thread is sold at Tk 550 to 560. The whole sellers including Babur Haat and Tangail, come to Sirajganj to purchase the golden thread.
A weaver can make a set of golden thread (six kilograms) within six to seven hours. They get Tk 220 for each set. But load-shedding hampers their working hours. As a result, the golden thread industry fell in problems.
According to field sources, the frequent load-shedding and the crisis of supplying raw materials made the production half.
Golden thread workers Hafizul Islam and Abdur Rahman said they are not getting proper wages.
They claimed that their wages should be Tk 400 for each set. But the Mohajans (owners) show different excuses saying that the price of thread is high and the market is not in favour.
Worker Abul Bashar said a worker can produce two sets (12 kilograms) of thread by 12-14 hours if the electric supply remains well. "But we cannot get power supply more than 8/9 hours. It is easy to produce 10/15 sets of thread in a week but we are producing 8/9 sets due to load-shedding which cuts the labour costing," he added.
Mohammad Akmal Hossain, owner of a golden thread factory, said the golden thread Industry is expanding day by day. But the raw materials are not always available. The price of the thread is increasing through syndicate; artificial crisis is being made as the demand increases before Eid.
The Industry will be more expanded if the supply of the raw materials is ensured, he also said.
Mohammad Alauddin, another owner, said the golden thread Industry has been suffering from efficient labourers. Most of the workers are women and inefficient.
"The workers observe work abstention, but the supply of raw materials and electric supply are not being ensured," he informed.
Sirajganj Chamber and Commerce and Industry President Golam Abu Yousuf Surja said the weavers are changing their trends to save the handloom Industry with the changing attitude of human being, so the golden thread industry has been developed as supportive Industry.
"The Industry is facing difficulties due to uncontrolled market and the patronization of government," he said.
He also demanded loans with easy terms for saving the Industry in accordance with the government patronisation.
